Spare gas for "in the middle of nowhere" driving

[dkoesyncro]

I usually carry spare gas, however I've never used it! Once though i had pulled into an old station where I met another traveler who was expecting to fill up and the station had its permit pulled and tanks decommissioned. No fuel for 86 miles; I gave the traveler my five gallons and his wife gave us a blank check...no BS!

We threw the check away, and the family was able to get to the next station...

[dhaavers]

OK...I guess I'm dumb, or else Google maps is not my friend... FWIW (from recent thread):

[Abscate]

[RBEmerson]

That siphon (check NAPA and FLAPS for same) is one of the neatest tools going. Stick the brass thingie (with a marble inside) in the container, jiggle hose and brass thingie up and down, watch the liquid magically rise with each jiggle, until it turns the corner and goes down the tube. Shazam!

I've used a slightly larger version (3/4" hose) to move diesel fuel on my boat when we've had to go to the 25 (5x5 gal.) we carry for "it's a looooong way to the next fuel dock" or I've had to dinghy the tanks out to the anchorage. Definitely a "don't leave home without it" item. Hmmmm... guess I'll take my own advice, even if it's only to siphon out a container that won't pour into our filler.
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Lord, give me coffee to change the things I can change, and wine to accept the things I can't change.

[cmayna]

Wife says each time we go camping that I already have way too much spare gas.....
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'90 Westy / automatic.
If I'm not working on the camper or my '50 Chebbie truck, I'm either fishing with the wife or smoking Salmon.


Craig

[AndyBees]

In 1986, we drove our 1983 Tin-top AC Vanagon to Alaska. There was no Google Earth in those days, obviously no Internet. We planned the trip over a two year time span. We were out and back in 30 days..... about 10k miles. On the return trip we drove the Cassiar Highway (90% dirt) down through the Rockies, cut cross country in numerous places. Not once did we ever need extra gas.

Seven years later, 1993, we made the trip again. However, we did do two major side excursions, one up to Yellowknife and then back to the Alaska Highway via the Liard Highway (come close running out of gas there due to boarded-up station). Then, we drove the Dempster Highway to Inuvik, NWT.. well above the Arctic Circle. And, then on to Alaska from Dawson City across the Top of the World Road.

We did five more trips to Alaska in that old 83 with the 2003 trip being the last one ... other than the one incident on the Liard, never a need to carry extra gas.
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'84 Vanagon Tin-top, ALH TDI. 1989 Tin-top
1983 Air-cool, 225k miles, 180k miles mine. Seven trips to Alaska from 1986 thru 2003.

[jimf909]

^^^ It sounds like you start thinking of when you'll need more gas before the needle is halfway through the red. I'll need to try that someday (my motorcycle has an 11.5 gallon gas tank and I've come close to running out of gas on it).
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- Jim

[Blacksmith73]

[AZ Landshaper]

The piece of mind knowing you have the things you never need is worth the trouble. I find gas to be a pain though. In the desert the sun will expand and contract a gas can (metal or plastic) to the point of no return or a large crack.
But the piece of mind is what its all about if your not a lackadaisical driver.
I need one of those below the floor tanks where the sun dont shine.


I am guilty of being a lackadaisical driver.
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Previously
64, 71, 72, 73, 76, 81, 84, 85 & 87 Campmobiles and Westfalias
and a 67 bug.

[Jeffrey Lee]

[nemobuscaptain]

Having an external gas can or three looks cool and expeditionish. Looks are important.

Prsonally gas cans on the back, potentially leaking on o the ehaust seems like a poor idea to this old former firefighter.
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[RBEmerson]

There is that.

Rotopax is supposed to be the really explorer-ish way to go. All that's missing is a genuine GoWesty snorkel kit...
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Lord, give me coffee to change the things I can change, and wine to accept the things I can't change.

[otiswesty]

I had a round plastic spare can underneath in the spare tire carrier that was there for a year or so before I heard it rupture on a really hot day.
Now I use a Mercedes 7L spare tire gas can that was under there in Baja for 3 years with no leaks.
Here's the pic of the can, found it on German eBay

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1978 Sage Green P22 Westfalia
1989 T3 Syncro Single cab

Just a regular guy

[djkeev]

HOLY PRICE TAG BATMAN!!!!

Those Mercedes tanks are selling for HUGE money!!!

I know safety has its price but Gee.......

Dave
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Stop Dead Photo Links how to post photos

Ghia
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=392473

Vanagon
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=6315537#6315537

Beetle
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=482968&highlight=74+super+vert

[danfromsyr]

cheapest thing in a VW is the loose nut behind the steering wheel.

I've a serious peeve against gas cans bungee'd to the roof rack..


does one NEED auxillary gas for travel out west.. no.. well maybe.. of course it depends.. but generally no.. unless you like having to source gas when the needle tells you to..
too often I've found stations no longer open, or just a gas station I'd prefer not to patronize..
so I have a 7gal AUX "tank2" in lieu of my spare tire.. even find it handy for our NY to FL trips down I-95.. again I don't like being told I have to get gas here, now..


also I'll slip this link in here..
and I offer absolutely NO ASSURANCES this will fit into a vanagon spare tire while in the clamshell..
can't even assure you it will seal gas while laying flat. as the volvo 240 mounts their spare tire upright in the trunk. http://www.collectorcarads.com/Picture7/Interior_Trunk_Spare_Tire.jpg
but it likely fits DJKeev's price sensitivity and well I've never seen one this cheap before.. nore likely will again.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-VOLVO-Red-Metal-O...3171540934
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[danfromsyr]

these also stand a chance of fitting into the spare tire rim.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/5L-Fuel-Tank-Jerry-Cans-S...1970823995

but don't take my word for it, measure 3xs and YMMV
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[RBEmerson]

That's the Rotopax can or a clone.

I'd bring an MB tank back from Germany (going in Dec.), but I doubt I can get it in my bags. Oh well...
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Lord, give me coffee to change the things I can change, and wine to accept the things I can't change.

[danfromsyr]

just pack it in your checked bags next to your mag lite
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[michaelbteam]

I learned the "hard way" how [very] accurate my syncro fuel gauge is; when the needle hit the empty mark, the engine quit. So I carry a 2 gallon Rotopax in the luggage rack when necessary, not exactly advisable but easy to access. I add a reflective insulated cover to protect somewhat against direct sunlight. I subsequently also learned that the syncro 18.5 gallon fuel capacity is hard to achieve, and that some people advise against "over filling" since it can contribute to some failure in the tank.

[AndyBees]